Zimbabwe could be banned from football competitions by FIFA after state sports authorities in that country on Tuesday unilaterally suspended the entire executive board of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).
FIFA insists all member federations must be free of any government and judicial interference in their respective countries.
Where this has happened in the past FIFA has not hesitated to impose a ban on offending countries from taking part in its competitions.
Zimbabwe’s Warriors ended their sorry FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar campaign with only two points from a possible 18.
In the midst of the slump, senior player 31-year-old Khama Billiat, who plays for Kaiser Chiefs in neighbouring South Africa, announced his retirement from the Zimbabwe national team on Monday.
A day later the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) announced on Twitter that it had suspended the entire executive board of the Zifa.
“SRC suspends ZIFA board, more to follow,” tweeted the SRC.
The suspension was announced before a leadership meeting between the powerful state SRC and ZIFA planned for later Tuesday could take place.
Zifa, led by veteran football administrator Felton Kamambo, has been blamed for the Warriors’ recent run of poor results.
The SRC has in the past accused Zifa of mismanaging funds entrusted to it.
All eyes are now on FIFA to see what action the world football body will take.
